Make own safety harness chords - OK or asking for it?

[CharlesM]

Hello All

Regarding the cost of the straps (dont know what the are called) which you clip on to your harness, and on to the boat.

I have thought it might be worth the effort to make these rather than buy them at £25 a pop.

I had a look at snow and rock, and the webbing that climbers use is sold at something like 30p a meter.

I thought of getting this stuff, tying a bowline on each end, and stiching the loose end of the bowline to the standing part. Then clipping on carbiners or whatever as required.

Does anyone think this is a valid approach at DIY or am I ASKING FOR TROUBLE? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

At £25 a pop * 6 we are adding large amounts to the cost of kitting up.

Regards
Charles

 

[Sans Bateau]

I hope you a joking!

No I'm not going for it, it must be a joke, yes?

 

[Shanta]

I think you just got your reply, to which I would like to add.
HOW MUCH IS YOUR LIFE WORTH...

 

[doca]

Don't skimp on lifesaving. What's a life worth?

 

[CharlesM]

No, I am not joking.

I may be looking at the wrong area to save, and therefore am looking for advice.

I am aware that one aspect could be legal liability should someone get hurt due to the failure in such a device. The costs are so small one could replace it every season.

I guess it is all about compromises, and how much one puts on insurance. Do you spend £300 on a 406 Sattelite EPIRB without GPS, or do you spend £700 on a GPS one? Do you spend £1000 or £3000 on a liferaft etc etc.

Regards
Charles

 

[MarkJohnson12345]

Sounds like a reasonable idea if you are sure the one you make up is up to scratch.

Should be not too difficult to test the first one you make to destruction!

Its one thing to trust your handiwork on yourself, but another to trust someone else's life on it though.

 

[Vascojc]

If the one you make is up to scratch and you have considered the liabilty aspect I don't see a problem.

What everyone has to consider is:
what do you secure the boat end to?
Who fitted it?
Is it to an accptable standard?
If they are jackstays when were they last replaced?
U-bolts etc - when did you last check the backing pads?
At least with a lifeline clipped to you it is fairly easy to visually check condition.
Always look at the weakest link.

 

[Sea Devil]

In a way the safety harness is the most important bit of kit on the boat - I tell my crew - if you fall overboard you are dead.... It is a fact... Except in very calm day light situations with enough crew on board to get you back....

Life jackets? never use them - only if getting into the raft... raft? only if the mast are disapearing under the water... Gps packs up? so what DR works fine.. but the safety harness is a must at night - on deck above F5 - when you are tired -

 

[LadyInBed]

I made mine. Didn’t bother with a Bowline, just fed ends through the eye in the clip then folded the rough edge in by two inches, sowed the three thicknesses using an awl and Dacron braid (fishing) twine using an X and square pattern.

 

[RupertW]

I can't see a big problem with it, expect for the cost of the clips. Assuming you get the newish kind of clips that can't come undone then is the price saving really worth the effort?

I agree that it's up to your judgement to decide where to spend your budget - I'd put a big priority on seacocks and harnesses, warm socks and a liferaft, but wouldn't dream of spending money on a chartplotter or radar - but that's me.

I can't really see how liability comes into it unless you have commercial passengers, in which case you need the standard gear. If a family member or friend goes overboard because the knot comes undone, then I don't suppose the legal and financial aspect will be top of your agenda.

 

[Vara]

No problem making a harness for yourself,but please don't make one for me,in the event of failure I (or my estate) will want someone to sue!

 

[graham]

A piece of 12 mm nylon rope with a good eye splice at each end would be plenty strong enough.The problem I imagine would be the cost of two carabiners for the ends.

 

[scuby]

Trouble. You do NOT use bowlines on tape!!! Karabiners are not the best solution either, but "hey ho" it's your neck.

 

[Guest]

It is not unusual......

for a ship to replace safety lines with on-board made jobs ... the strength of line picked is far above any persons weight etc.

With webbing ones that seem to be more a shore / yacht item than on commercial ships - there a stout rope is used ! - the usual fastening is by X and square design stitching.

I actually see no problem with the act - if done well ... those that cry - Whats a life worth etc. are right - but also I believe catering for the 'doom merchants' - sorry but IMO.

A well made own safety line I would trust more than a shop bought one - but then again I was at sea for 17yrs and can splice rope / stitch canvas etc. etc.

Take a look at any shop bought job and make sure yours is better !!

Finally - how many times have you had a shop bought stitched item start to have its stitching un-stitch ? Need I say more ????

 

[ShipsWoofy]

This question was asked a while back. I went searching, and found two clips cost more than a made up lifeline. My elasticated ones came in around £23.00 each.

Do you really need 6, how many people on deck at once, having all six clipped into the cockpit could present its own dangers.

Just some thoughts.

 

[Benbow]

No problem to make your own. I have seen coded boats with home made strops.

However I suggest;

Do not use climbing-type cararabiners, they are not designed for long-term exposure to sea water and corrode.

Arrange it so the clip is captive and can't slip around in the loop of the strop. This makes it much easier to use single-handed.

Bowline is not ideal, even stiched down, because it undoes itself when not under load. If using tape, I would use a re-threaded figure of 8 with stitched down tails.

I would not recommend using laid rope with an eye splice because they seem to twist and kink when used for this job.

Don't be put off by the 'how much is your life worth' doom mongers.Do a good job that you can be confident in and it will probably be better than a commercial product.

Not sure how much money you will actually save!

 

[simonfraser]

DON'T fall off, make it short

 

[phild]

i thought about it , i`m a sailmaker and have access to all the kit , however with the gibb hooks at 12 quid each end there was no point spending money on a length of webbing and 15 mins at my rate o f pay sewing them up.,when the stock itim is 25 quid complete.
on the gibb hooks i find that anything else can open if it snags on a u bolt or twists and have found no other quick release hook that i trust for the purpose
however i picked up a complete harness and gibb hooks for not a great deal more at the boat jumble so they are about , secondhand.

on making them from scratch , cost your time is it worth it? ( i often need to be told this !)

 

[duncan]

I would add that you should be carefull of the material you sew with - dacron is not ideal now but one of the speektra (dyneema) braided sea lines would be excellent.
I expect that many of us here have made the standing rigging; and wouldn't think twice about putting together and attaching the safety line so why not the harnesses too? If anything the likely result will be overengineered and not save any money on purchasing but that's another issue!
Have fun making them.

 

[doug748]

Make them yourself if you like. I bought the fittings from a boat jumble and used seat belt webbing from scrap cars - do use a sewing machine though and then reinforce by hand for peace of mind. I regularly go up the mast on a similar set up.